Thank you for your interest – this event is SOLD OUT.  Please send an email if you would like to be added to the wait list.  

This is a pre-pay event – purchase your $60 tasting/dinner with the link below.

Is it mid-summer?  Is it warm?  Is the beach calling us?

It WOULD be if we were in Australia!!!   Since we aren’t there – let’s get together and fight the cold by celebrating Australia Day with some great Australian wines!!!

This year we will celebrate Oz-Day with a diverse grouping of whites and reds, with Australia’s New World sensibilities informing traditional French styles from Burgundy (Chardonnay) to Bordeaux (Semillon/Sauv Blanc and Cabernet) to the Rhone (Marsanne/Viognier and Syrah).   There are some hefty scores associated with these wines (a low of 90 to high of 95), but as usual, I won’t immediately share the scores to allow attendees to judge for themselves.

Hope you can join us!

Here’s our program

Wednesday, January 22, 2014
(Held at ‘e2’ in Highland Park 5904 Bryant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

6:30 p.m. – A selection of Kate’s famous OMGs

6:45 p.m. – Introduction and tasting of five Australian wines

• Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillion 2012 (Margaret River, Australia)
• d’Arenberg Hermit Crab Marsanne Viognier 2011 (McLaren Vale, Australia)
• First Drop Wines Mere et Fils Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2012 (Adelaide Hills, Australia)
• West Cape Howe Cabernet Sauvignon Book Ends Great Southern 2008 (Great Southern, Australia)
• Clarendon Hills Brookman Syrah 2006 (McLaren Vale, Australia)

7:15 p.m. – Dinner created by Chef Kate Romane

Thank you for your interest – this event is SOLD OUT.  If you would like to be added to the wait list – please send an email through the website.

This is a pre-pay event – purchase your $55 tasting/dinner with the link below.

What fun it is to taste wines from around the world in an un-pretentious setting, made even more interesting by the diverse blend of attendees, each with their own palate and thoughts on wine!

After tasting five refined Bordeaux wines and five big Rhone wines we now turn our attention to the new world (in wine terms this means the whole world except for Europe!).   While Europe continues centuries-old traditions and mastery of wine-making, the ‘new world’ makes its own history with modern techniques and adventurous approaches.   As we did last time, we will taste the wines by themselves and then with dinner to see how the flavor profiles change. If you are interested in serious new world wines, treat yourself to this tasting!

Here’s our program

Wednesday November 20th
(Held at ‘e2’ in Highland Park 5904 Bryant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

6:30 p.m. – Apps and Sparkler (Gruet Brut, New Mexico)

6:45 p.m. – Introduction and tasting of four New World Wines

• Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2012 (Margaret River, Australia)
• Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Belle Terre 2010 (Napa, California)
• Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Alexander Reserve (Chile)
• Frank Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2010 (Napa, California)

7:15 p.m. – Dinner created by Chef Kate Romane

WOW – lots of Rhone Rangers out there….we are SOLD OUT.  If you would like us to put you on the wait list – please send an email.  Thank you.

Introducing a new series of serious tastings created by wine enthusiast Jack Brice.

This is a pre-pay event – purchase your $55 tasting/dinner with the link below.

France’s Rhone region produces what many consider to be the most characterful, rustic and big wines in France.   Join us to taste two Rhone whites and three Rhone reds, including the historic and hard to find 2007 Vintage of Chateau de Beaucastel.  If you are interested in the flavors of the Rhone – you won’t want to miss this tasting/dinner.

We expect a fantastic dinner from our friends at e2 (probably something with Lamb this time) that will match wonderfully with the rustic Rhone wines.

Here’s our program

Wednesday October 30th
(Held at ‘e2’ in Highland Park 5904 Bryant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

6:30 p.m. – Apps

6:45 p.m. – Introduction and tasting of five Rhone wines

Domaine de la Solitude, Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2012 – Southern Rhone White, exotic fruit flavors and clean finish

J.L. Chave Sélection Saint-Joseph Blanc Céleste 2011  (90pts IWC) – Northern Rhone White from Roussanne and Marsanne grapes, rich and deep with long finish

J.L. Chave Sélection Saint-Joseph Offerus 2010 (91pts IWC) – Syrah-based Northern Rhone Red, red fruit flavors, spicy and sleek

Chateauneuf du Pape Marquis Anselme Mathieu 2001 – Fully mature example of Chateauneuf du Pape red, 90% Grenache grapes, blended with 10% traditional Southern Rhone grapes (13 varieties permitted)

Chateauneuf du Pape Chateau de Beaucastel 2007 (96pts Robert Parker, 96pts Wine Spectator) – This is a serious and highly sought after wine – taste it with us and see if you agree with the critics!

7:15 p.m. – Dinner created by Chef Kate Romane

And be sure to save the date for the next tasting.

November 20 – New World Favorites

We have SOLD OUT for Bordeaux.  Save the date for Rhones on Wednesday 10/30.

Let’s try something new… and a little more serious!   Introducing a new series of serious tastings created by wine enthusiast Jack Brice.

This is a pre-pay event – purchase your $55 tasting/dinner with the link below.

Autumn is a little more serious than summer, and so our tastings are turning a little more serious too.   Bordeaux is the most famous winemaking region in the world and we carefully chose good examples of ‘Left Bank’ and ‘Right Bank’ wines, including a Grand Cru, to help you determine which style you like better.   The vintages available (2009 and 2010) are known to be some of the best in the past 50 years!   We will taste the wines by themselves and then with food to see how the flavor profiles change.   If you are interested in serious wines, treat yourself to this tasting!

Here’s our program

Wednesday October 2^nd
(Held at ‘e2’ in Highland Park 5904 Bryant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

6:30 p.m. – Sparkler and Apps

6:45 p.m. – Introduction and tasting of four Bordeaux

• Chateau Bellevue Entre-deux-Mers blanc 2011 (Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon)
• Chateau Roquebrune Lalande de Pomerol Cuvee Reine 2009 (Merlot-driven ‘Right Bank’)
• Les Fiefs de Lagrange St Julien 2009 (Cabernet-driven ‘Left Bank’ from classified “Third Growth” in 1855 Classification of Grand Crus)
• Chateau Ambe Tour Pourret Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2010 (Merlot-driven ‘Right Bank’)

7:15 p.m. – Dinner created by Chef Kate Romane

And be sure to save the date for the next tastings

October 30 – France’s Rhone Valley
November 20 – New World Favorites